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G^Writ from facts and traditions as set 
down in ye old records ofyeCMaJSacre 
of Skinnechtady, and in commemoration 
ofSymon Schermernoorns ride to save 
ye inhabitants of<s?4lha7iyfromye French 
and Indians. 



PRIVA TELY PRINTED 
J9JO 






225 COPIES 

PRINTED FROM TYPE BY 

J. B. LYON COMPANY, ALBANY, N. Y. 

OF WHICH THIS IS 



No. /.<?_..£...„. 



Intrn&urtar}} 5fafe 



Full as are the pages of the Book of 
American Heroes who fought, bled and died 
for their country, surely there can be found 
a space on which even at this late date 
may be inscribed the brave act of Symon 
Schermerhoorn, who, at the Massacre of 
Schenectady, on the night of February 8 and 
9, 1690, after his son and negro slaves (3) 
had been slaughtered, took horse to ride to 
Fort Orange (Albany, N. Y.) that he might 
save the inhabitants from a similar fate. 

While fighting his way through the 
French and Indians, he and his horse were 
wounded, he seriously in the thigh with a 
bullet. 



Instead of considering himself and his 
wound and attempting the shorter and more 
direct route to Albany, he selected the River 
road, of almost double the distance, that he 
might warn the settlers of Canastageoine 
(Niskayuna) and others living on the banks 
of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers above 
Albany. 

He rode for six long, weary hours, the 
terrible cold eating into the hole in his thigh, 
a wound such that every movement of the 
plunging horse caused him intense agony. 
All this over a road so impeded with drifted 
snow that soldiers on horse and foot, the fol- 
lowing morning, were unable to advance. 

Surely somewhere in THE BOOK can be found 
space for one more name. 



The author begs to acknowledge in the 
compilation of this work the assistance and 
courtesies of the County Clerk's office (Albany); 
State Historian Victor Hugo Paltsits, John 
Pierce, Esq., and his esteemed friend George 
H. Thacher, Esq., to whose advice and 
encouragement whatever literary merit this 
poem may contain is due. 



§>gmnn Jacobs^ ^r^rm^rljonrn 

Sorn lfiSB 

When no monument marks a true hero's 
grave, 
And no chiseled line his brave deeds 
adorn, 
Let mine be the pen for the future to save 
The name and the fame of a Schermer- 
hoorn. 



vftmb fwsQhrfuy 



!Mu0tratum0 



Title page Charles Selkirk 

Facsimile of old record . . . Photo by Stroessel 

" As nodding he sat 'fore the chimney brest " 

F. O. C. Barley 

" Mingled with many an anguished cry " F. O. C. Darley 

Map showing forts and roads .... Souther 

" A savage pack from the North they came " . Rheinhart 

Old cut of a massacre (artist unknown) 

Loaned by Hon. J. H. Manning 

Heading, letters and tailpiece . . Charles Selkirk 



Facsimile from the original minutes of the 
Mayor and Aldermen of Albany, as set down 
in the book of records of date February 
9, 1690; found in the office of the Clerk of 
the County of Albany, N. Y. ; now bound 
into a book marked Mortgages No. 3, and 
dated 1765 75. It is the only known record 
that proves time, conditions and facts of 
Schermerhoorn's ride; it is in the handwrit- 
ing of Robert Livingston, Jr. (a nephew 
of Robert Livingston, the hrst Lord of 
the Manor), who was afterward Mayor of 
Albany. 





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N a winter's night of long ago, i 
The snow lay deep, the wind 



did blow 



In fitful gusts that wildly shrieked, 



The roof tiles rattl'd — timbers creaked, 



The shutters tugged at latch and hinge, 
The whole house shook, it seem'd to cringe 
'Neath the savage blasts that winter's night, 
As wild beasts do when sore affright. 



[A blast 




'As nodding he sat 'fore the chimney brest ' 



A blast more fierce than those before 

Wrench'd the windows and sprung the door: 10 

The noise outside and wild wind screams 

Startled the Burgher from peaceful dreams, 

As nodding he sat 'fore the chimney brest 

With eyes half clos'd and chin on chest, 

Glanced at th' clock that stately stands, 15 

Marking the time with tireless hands, 

" The hour is late," he softly said, 

" Vrouw, go put the children to bed. 

[ " Quick 



" Quick return, and ere we retire 

We'll chat awhile by open fire." 20 

Up rose the Burgher, pipe in hand, 

Walked to the window, took a stand 

Where he could scan the village street, 

He thought he caught the sound of feet; 

He seem'd to see, through frosted pane, 25 

A horse's shape, its tangled mane, 

Foaming nostrils, blood-matted hair, 

And steaming breath on th' cold night air, 

[The face 



The face of rider, pinched and drawn ; 

Another blast — the phantom's gone. 30 

Hand to brow in a troubled way, 

With nod and wink that seem'd to say 

He didn't believe in ghosts and such, 

Phlegmatic, indeed, the hardy Dutch. 

With shuffling gait and puzzled air, 35 

He wanders back to his easy chair 

And to vrouw, return'd to fireside, 

He tells the story of Symon's ride. 

[Said he 




"Mingled with many an anguished cry' 



^arhy 



Said he : " Not many have heard the tale 

Of Symon's ride o'er the River Trail, 40 

On that fatal night, so long ago, 

When Corlaer Town was all aglow, 

And wanton flames roared to the sky, 

Mingled with many an anguished cry 

From grey-haired men, and women who 45 

Strove to hide their babes from view ; 

Mothers heavy drew no quarter, 

Blood in streams flow'd there like water. 

[ " Brave 




Map showing forts and roads 



" Brave indeed are men who fight 

Helpless women in the night. 50 

'Twas sixteen ninety — that's the date, 

Oft I've heard old men relate 

How Symon, wounded deep in thigh, 

Rode through snow, piled mountain high, 

In scanty garb on crippled steed, 55 

None could do a braver deed ; 

Six long hours of untold strain, 

Six long hours of fearful pain, 

["As fierce 



" As fierce cold bit the gaping wound, 

Ever onward — then he swooned 60 

At old North Gate by riverside, 

Where jaded horse lay down and died, 

And Symon's lips, op'd as in death, 

Releas'd the words, with falt'ring breath, 

That warned the Burghers dwelling here, 65 

Causing the brave to shrink with fear 

As he told the fate of Corlaer Town ; 

How French and Indian burn'd it down, 

["Slew sixty 



" Slew sixty odd, both young and old, — 

He swooned away, his tale half told. 70 

Those were the days when Dutchmen fought, 

With Fate for foothold, dearly bought, 

And beaver pelts served as gold, 

For goods the Dutch to Maquaas sold ; 

When beacon's flash, from mountain height, 75 

Bore ghastly message, through the night, 

That tomahawk and scalping knife 

Again did menace limb and life. 

[ " A savage 



"A savage pack, from the North they came, 

They'd have come in vain, — mores the shame, 80 

If stockade gates had been bolt'd tight 

When Schenectady slept that winter's night: 

But men will quarrel, though wrong or right, 

So gates swung wide — a factional fight. 

What saith the Bible on yon shelf, 85 

Of house divided 'gainst itself, 

' Shall surely fall,' and great the pity, 

What's true of house is true of city. 

[ " By stealth 




2 

5 



"By stealth they came, through River Gate — 

Twould almost seem that hand of Fate 90 

Made easy road for the frozen horde, 

It's not recorded they thank'd the Lord, — 

With wild warwhoop they fiercely slew, 

E'en babes and children, and mothers, too; 

Left was but one alive and free, 95 

Of all that old Dutch companie, 

Save Sander Glen and a widow that 

Bore the ancient name of Bradt. 

["The one 



"The one that stood alive and free, 

Brave remnant of Schinnectady, ioo 

Who won his life, his spurs as well, 

Fought o'er his dead wife where she fell, 

And dying child that by her side, 

Called to its mother, gasp'd and died — 

Was Adam Vrooman — forgot of fame, 105 

Who fought to end, through smoke and flame, 

To find at last that he stood alone, 

For naught remained but stricken home, 

["And glory 



"And glory, the brave man ever wins, 
Who fights his fight — bears on and grins. 1 10 
The legend tells how a drunken crew- 
Drank deep that night of Douw Aukes' brew, 
In The Tavern on State and old Mill Lane, 
How the Indians slaughtered the very same; 
Like sheep in a shamble kill'd them there, 1 15 
And lifted each gory scalp and hair, — 
Ah ! 'twas a terrible massacre." 



Here endeth the story of 
Symon Schermerhoorn. 




[L'envoi 



Catmit 




ymon Schermerhoorn's long 

since dead, 
No stone marks the spot 

where rests his head, 
No graver has yet there writ his story, 
No statue's rear'd to his fame or glory ; 
Forgotten the deed of man and beast, 
Though sorely wounded, who never ceas'd, 
Till one fell dead at Fort Orange gate, 
The other gasp'd forth the awful fate, 
Of Schenectady Town — its tragic plight, 
Long years ago, that winter's night. 




Italnriral NofrB 



Some idea of the historical importance of Schermer- 
hoorn's ride to prevent a surprise of Albany similar to that 
of Schenectady may be gained from the fact that had the 
French taken Albany they would have advanced down the 
Hudson river to Esopus, where they were to await the 
coming of another horde of 600, the joint forces to move 
on to New Amsterdam (New York), which in all proba- 
bility they would have overcome. Schermerhoorn, when 
making his escape and ride from Schenectady, was under 
the impression that the French and Indian force was over 
a thousand strong, nor could he have known that on the 
morrow at noon they would turn back to Canada, unable 
to longer stand their privations and the cold. 

Page 13. Symon Jacobse Schermerhoorn, according to 
old records, was born in 1658, a son of Jacob Janse, born 
in Holland, 1622, and one of the first settlers here. Symon 
married Willemptje Velie, a sister of Douw Aukes' wife, 
the keeper of The Tavern in 1690 (corner of State street 
and Mill Lane, Schenectady). In 1688, Symon moved from 
Albany to Schenectady. 1693 found him a skipper on the 
Hudson river with his home in New York. From him 
descended the Schermerhoorns now living there. — History 
of the Schenectady Patent, Pierson. 

Line 3. In the olden days vessels sailing from Holland 
to this country, with empty space in their holds, ballasted 
with roof tiles and brick. Some of these old brick are still 
doing service in the sidewalks on Columbia street, Albany, 
to-day. 

Line 40. "and was come over Canastageonie (Niska- 
yuna) to bring ye news." — Old MSS., page 14. The road 



that led to Niskayuna was called on the old maps of the 
date (Souther's) the "River road" to distinguish it from 
the " Orange road," now the Schenectady turnpike. The 
manuscript on page 14 shows conclusively the route taken 
by the rider. The River road ran into the " Waterfleet 
turnpike" which in turn bore to the North Gate of the 
Albany stockade. 

Line 42. The French and Northern Indians called the 
town of Schenectady, " Corlaer." The name recurs 
throughout all of the French records of the massacre. 

Line 47. "The cruelties committed at sd Place no Penn 
can write nor Tongue expresse, ye women big with Childe 
Rip'd up and ye Children alive thrown into ye flames, and 
their heads Dashed in Pieces against the Doors and 
windows. " — D. Wessels Ten Broeck and Kilian Van Rens- 
selaer to Governor Bradstreet, 1690. 

Lines 49 and 50. "The French were sensible what 
horror this cruel sacking of a defenceless Place, and mur- 
dering People in cold Blood, must have on mens minds, 
and to lessen this they resolved to show their gratitude to 
Captain Glen." — History of Five Nations, p. 115. 

Line 51. February 8 and 9, 1690. — See MSS., page 14. 

Line 53. "who was shott threw his Thigh." — Old 
MSS., page 14. 

Line 54. "Some horsemen sent out to Discover ye 
Enimies force and their march, but were forced to Return, 
ye snow being so deep." — Old Deed, County Clerk's Office, 
Albany, N. Y. 

" We sent out some few horse forth with after we had 
Rec'd ye news, but scarsely could get throw ye deep snow, 
some whereof got to ye De Solato " (Sand Plains). — Letter, 
Dirk Wessels Ten Broeck and Kilian Van Rensselaer, to 
Governor Bradstreet. 

Line 55. " and wounded his horse." — Old MSS., page 14. 

Lines 57 and 58. The massacre commenced at 11 
o'clock and Symon arrived in Albany at 5 in the morning. 



Lines 60 to 65. That Symon fell fainting from his horse 
at the North Gate of Albany and was able only to lisp the 
warning words, is an old legend. The conditions existing 
from exhaustion, exposure and wound would indicate its 
probability. 

Line 66. No better idea of the effect that the news of 
the massacre produced on the people of Albany can be 
obtained than the following extract from the letter to 
Governor Bradstreet : " To our Grief and Sorrow we must 
acquaint you with our Deplorable Condition, there haveing 
never ye Like Dreadful massacre and murther been Com- 
mitted in these Parts of America, as has been acted by ye 
french and their Indians at Shinnechtady 20 miles from 
Albanie." 

Line 69. "They murthered 60 persons and bore away 
with them 27 prisoners, wounding some others." — Lysler 
to the Bishop of Salisbury. 

" Killed and destroyed 60 men, women and children, 
carried 27 men and boys prisoners, and burnt ye town." 
— Robert Livingston to Sir Edmund Andrus, April, 1690. 

Line 73. To show the use of the beaver's pelt as coin 
of the land, no better example can be found than this : 
" By the contract between Helmer Otten's widow and 
Jan Janse Bleeker and Hans Hendrickse, guardians for her 
daughter Catryna, made July 1, 1676, said widow agreed to 
pay her daughter as soon as she was of age or married, 
ye somme of 225 whole beaver skins for payment of which 
said Ariaantje doth bind farm (No. 4)." — Veeder Papers. 

Line 74. The Indians of Albany and vicinity were 
always referred to in all of the old Dutch records as the 
Maquaas. Their principal forts or strongholds were located 
north of Schenectady, and known as Maquaas Castle 
No. 1 and 2. They were, as a matter of fact, Mohicans 
or Mohegans. 

Line 79. The French and Indians that massacred the 
people of Schenectady came from Montreal, down the 



shores of Lake Champlain. The trip consumed 22 days 
and was fraught with most intense hardships. There were 
210 all told. 114 Frenchmen, 80 savages from the Soult, 
and 16 Algonquins, commanded by Lemoine de St. Helene. 

Line 80. "and more's th' shame." 

" Tho as the French owned afterwards, if they had found 
the least ' Guard or Watch, they would not have attempted 
the place, but have surrendered themselves Prisoners,' they 
were so exceedingly distressed with the Length of their 
March, and with Cold, and Hunger." — History of Five 
Nations, p. 11 4, Pub. 171 4. 

Lines 81 to 84. " The people of that Towne were so 
bygotted to Lysler that they would not obey any of ye 
Magistrates." * * Thus had Lysler perperted ye poor 
people by his seditious letters, now found all bloody on 
Skinnectady streets, with the notions of free trade and 
boalting, etc., and thus are they destroyed ; they would 
not watch and where Capt'n Sander (Glen) commanded, 
there they threatened to burn him upon ye fire if he came 
upon ye guarde." — Letter, Robert Livingston to E. Andrus , 
April 14, 1690. 

Line 89. " The Town of Corlaer forms a sort of oblong 
with only two gates, one opposite the road we had taken, 
the other leading to Orange. De St. Helaine & de Mantet 
were to enter the first. Messrs. d'Iberville and de Mon- 
tesson took the left. * * * But they could not dis- 
cover it and returned to join the remainder of the party." 
— De Monsignat to Madam, de Maintenon. 

Line 91. " At eleven o'clock at night they came within 
sight of the Town (but) resolved to defer the assault untill 
two o'clock of the morning. But excessive cold admitted 
of no further delay." — M. De Monsignat to Madam de 
Maintenon. 

Line 93. "The signal of attack was given Indian 
fashion, and the whole force rushed on simultaneously." 



Line 94. " Murdered evry Person they met, Men, 
Women, and Children, naked and in cold blood." — History 
of Five Nations, p. 11 4. 

Lines 97 and 98. " None were spared in the town but 
one house belonging to Condre (Sander Glen) and that of 
a widow (Bratt) who had six children, whither M. de 
Montigny had been carried when wounded." — De Mon- 
signat to Madam de Maintenon. 

Lines 100 to iio. Adam Vrooman. " Adam, son of 
Hendrick Meese, bom in Holland 1647. In 1670 bound 
himself for two years to Cornelis Van den Bergh of Albany 
to learn millwright's trade, for 80 guilders in silver and a 
pair of new shoes the first year, 120 guilders the second 
year. 1683 he built a mill on the Sand-kil where the 
Brandy wine now stands. In 1690, when Schenectady was 
destroyed, he saved his life by his bravery in defending his 
house which stood near the North Gate on the West corner 
of Front and Church streets. On this occasion his wife 
Engelte, with her infant child, was killed." — Henry Yates 
and Dutch Church Papers. 

Lines hi to 117. There seems to be every reason to 
believe the tradition of the drunken brawl at The Tavern 
of Douw Aukes on the night of the massacre. That all of 
the revellers gathered there were killed and scalped by 
the Indians has been generally accepted by compilers of 
Colonial history. 



























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